[DaveNull]

Originally Posted by Fire Me Boy!

Star Trek is 2.35:1. The 1.85:1 is what will fill your 16:9 screen. No, if it's available in "widescreen," it will be the theatrical aspect ratio. So your options are to 1. understand that what you're seeing is what the director intended; 2. watch the 2.35:1 movies on some sort of zoom which will cut off the sides; or 3. watch only movies with a 1.85:1 aspect ratio.

As a corollary, I thought we were way past this "I don't like black bars on my TV" bullshit?

I take it you already are well versed with what Kubrick did with all of his films, but for the good of the order:

Why are some of Kubrick’s films not available "letterboxed" on home video?
Kubrick had total control over the aspect ratios (ratio of the width of a film image to its height) of his films, in their theatrical release and on home video. He liked to experiment, and he liked to question conventions regarding aspect ratios, so it’s no surprise that there is no real consistency regarding the home video versions of his films.

Spartacus and 2001: A Space Odyssey were the only films he shot using a "widescreen" format (Super Technirama on Spartacus and Super Panavision on 2001), so those would be the only two really hurt by not being letterboxed (both are available on video and DVD letterboxed to approximately their proper aspect ratios).

A Clockwork Orange and Barry Lyndon were shot and released in most theaters in the matted 1.66 : 1 widescreen ratio, and The Shining, Full Metal Jacket and Eyes Wide Shut were shot open-matted (or full-frame) and framed for a theatrical release in the American standard ratio of 1.85 : 1.

However, Kubrick preferred on all these films that they be transferred to home video fullscreen (a ratio of about 1.37 : 1). Had he remained alive to see the rising popularity of widescreen and high-definition TVs, he may have eventually changed his mind about these films.

What is the definition of "letterboxed"?
"Letterboxed" is the term commonly used to describe when a feature film is shown

in its original aspect ratio on TV (meaning that there are black bars on

top of and below the image, to simulate a movie screen).

"Matting" can also be used, but is more commonly a term used in connection with the actual filming process, i.e. "Kubrick normally matted his films for a 1.66 : 1 aspect ratio."

It means putting an actual hard mat inside the camera to cut out part of the image. When referring to home video, "letterboxing" is the more common term.

From here..